THE PRESIDENT: Welcome. Please be seated, thanks for coming.
Laura and I appreciate you coming today, and it's a chance to talk
about our vision for our friends in Afghanistan.

It was a year ago that American forces were just beginning the
liberation of Afghanistan. And on this date last year, a year ago
today, I asked the children of America to contribute one dollar to
provide food and medical help to the children of Afghanistan. In a
year's time after making that request, we've really accomplished a
lot. We have. We have seen, of course, the tremendous skill and
character of a United States military. We have seen the courage of our
allies and our Afghan friends. We have seen the spirit of the Afghan
people, who long for freedom. We've seen the great generosity of our
fellow Americans extended to men, women, and children on the other side
of the Earth.

And yet, today I want you all to know, and our fellow citizens to
know, there's still a lot left to do. There's still a lot of work to
do in Afghanistan to achieve our dreams -- and more importantly, the
dreams of the Afghan people. Today, America affirms its full
commitment to a future of progress and stability for the Afghan
people.

I appreciate so very much the Ambassador for being here. Mr.
Ambassador, I want to thank you for your service. The Ambassador is a
-- was an American citizen until recently. He decided he wanted to
serve his country, the land of his birth; renounced his citizenship so
he could become the official Ambassador from Afghanistan to the United
States. And Ambassador Shahryar is a -- is a great man who serves a
wonderful example of putting your country above yourself.

And so, Mr. Ambassador, we're honored you're here. I want to thank
you -- where is he? Oh, Ambassador, you'd think they'd have given
you a better seat. (Laughter.) I'm proud of you, I really am.

I'm also proud of Andrew Natsios, who is our Administrator of
USAID. I want to thank him. I'll talk about some of Andy's fellow
employees here in a minute and what they're doing on behalf of the
American people to help Afghanistan children.

Sharif Faez is the Minister of Education -- Higher Education.
He, too, used to live in America. He's now serving his country. He
shares our vision and understanding of the need to make sure the
educational systems are strong and available, so that people can have
hope in his country. Mr. Minister, thank you for your service, and
I'm honored you're here with us.

I appreciate the members of the Congress being here. Dana, thanks
for coming. Members of my national security team who are working hard
on Afghan policy, whether it be Condi Rice, who's the boss; or Zal --
where are you, Zal? Thank you, Zal -- he knows a lot about
Afghanistan; after all, he was from there. Elliot Abrams, members of
my team who care deeply about our policy to make sure that our policy
is complete. The -- it's very important for our fellow Americans to
remember that -- keep in mind about the Taliban. They were the most
brutal and oppressive governments -- one of the most brutal and
oppressive governments in modern times.

It's hard for us to understand in America, but these are people who
attempted to control every mind and every soul in the country. They,
obviously, had a vast network of terrorist camps available to train
extremists from around the world. Thanks to America, and thanks to our
friends, thanks to people who love freedom for everybody, the
oppressive rule has been lifted. They're no longer in power. They're
on the run -- along with a bunch of other ones over there, too.

Afghanistan has entered a new era of hope. And we want to be a
continued part of the new era of hope in Afghanistan. (Applause.)

One of our dear values, one of the values we hold close to our
heart is the respect and beliefs of all peace-loving people, no matter
what their faith may be. Islam is a vibrant faith. Millions of our
fellow citizens are Muslim. We respect the faith. We honor its
traditions. Our enemy does not. Our enemy don't follow the great
traditions of Islam. They've hijacked a great religion.

But it's important, as we lift that veil, to remember that they are
nothing but a bunch of radical terrorists who distort history and the
values of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It
inspires them to lead lives based on honesty, and justice, and
compassion.

We've also got a great tradition, not only of recognizing freedom
of religion and respecting religion, we've got a great tradition of
liberating people, not conquering them. It's very important for our
citizens to remember that as we upheld that doctrine that said, if you
harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, that we
went into Afghanistan to free people, because we believe in freedom.
We believe every life counts, everybody has worth, everybody matters,
whether they live in America or in Afghanistan.

And so we are helping the people to now recover from years of
tyranny and oppression. We're helping Afghanistan to claim its
democratic future, and we're helping that nation to establish public
order and safety -- even while the struggle against terror continues
in some corners of that country. There's still al Qaeda killers
roaming around Afghanistan. We're working closely with the government
to rout them out, not only to make sure that Afghanistan is more safe,
but also to make sure America is safe, as well.

A year ago, it was really hard to find security and safety anywhere
in Afghanistan. Just ask the citizens who were there. Now, America is
helping to form a new Afghan national army. We are committed to an
Afghan national army. The idea is to train 18 battalions of over
10,000 soldiers and finish the task by the end of next year.

I'm proud that Germany is helping, as well, to bring civil order by
helping to build a police force. The International Security Assistance
Force, what they call the ISAF, led by coalition countries, is helping
to keep the streets safe in the city of Kabul. Security is a
requirement for recovery and development. Can't have recovery and
development unless there is a secure society. America and other
nations will continue working with the Afghan government to build
security, so the Afghan people can live their lives without violence
and without fear.

A year ago, Afghans were living under history's first-ever
terrorist-sponsored regime. These people had found a parasite. And in
June of 2002, history will show that Afghanistan reversed its history
by having a loya jirga and created the most broadly representative
government in Afghanistan's history. There are two women serving in
President Karzai's cabinet. The institutions of free debate and free
press are taking hold. New commissions on human rights and the
drafting of a new constitution will lay the groundwork for democracy
and for the rule of law.

The institutions necessary for the development of a peaceful,
hopeful country are going to be put in place soon. We will stay the
course to help that country develop -- in their image, not in ours.

A year ago, millions of Afghans lived in fear of famine and
disease. In the time since, America has delivered food and medicine to
the Afghan people. We are committed to the health of the Afghan
people. Over the last year, U.N. World Food Program, with the support
of the United States, has provided 575,000 metric tons of food to
nearly 10 million Afghans. The United States has also provided seed
and fertilizer in time for the spring planting season. The United
States joined with other nations to support UNICEF's vaccination of
more than 8 million children against measles. American health care
officials are helping with other efforts to improve public health,
including the fight against polio and malaria, HIV and tuberculosis.
These relief efforts have put hunger and disease on the retreat. We
got the Taliban gone. We'd like to get disease and hunger gone, as
well.

More than 2 million Afghan refugees have returned back to the
country since November. That is a positive sign. It's a good sign
that people are sensing their country is a better place to live and
more secure, a better place to raise a family.

One American bringing hope to Afghanistan is Sergeant First Class
Victor Anderson. Victor is with us today. Sergeant Anderson spent
seven months traveling in Afghanistan. He visited hospitals and
clinics, provided medical care from his car. He never turned down
anybody who asked for help. He treated broken bones; he treated
gunshot wounds; he treated cuts and diseases. He treated a small child
who was bitten by a donkey. (Laughter.)

Sergeant Anderson, your service brings great credit to the Army and
to America, and the nation is really grateful for your work.
(Applause.)

A year ago, the children of Afghanistan were suffering greatly in a
nation beset by war. It's not hard to imagine children suffering in a
nation beset by war, and it's really sad. The children of America
responded with great compassion. America's Fund for Afghan Children
has collected more than $10.5 million. That's a dime at a time, or a
dollar at a time; that's a lot of kids working hard to collect money.
It has allowed the Red Cross to deliver emergency medical supplies to
help serve 60,000 people. This fund has helped provide winter clothes
to 8,000 children, to help rehabilitate hospitals in Kabul.

Today, we've got representatives of the fund, twins: Sarah and
Alexander Ahmad. Together, they've raised $12,000 -- $12,000 --
that's a lot of money. (Applause.) Nearly 25 years ago, Sarah and
Alexander's dad came to America from Afghanistan, from wartorn
Afghanistan. Today, the family is helping to give peace a chance in
their ancestral home, and as importantly, showing the world the
generous heart, the great heart, of the American people. I really
appreciate the example you're setting, and thank you for joining us
today. (Applause.)

And by the way, the fund still exists. And I hope the American
children understand there are still people in Afghanistan who hurt a
lot. And if you've given once, it's okay to give again to make sure we
continue to help the people in Afghanistan.

America will continue to provide that country with essential
short-term relief. We also understand that Afghanistan needs long-term
economic reconstruction help. And we will meet this commitment, as
well.

Starting with the Tokyo Conference last January, the United States
and 60 other countries have pledged $4.5 billion over five years to
work on reconstruction projects. America is delivering on our pledge;
we're writing our checks. We're currently implementing more than $300
million worth of reconstruction and recovery projects. The nations who
have made pledges, the other nations, they need to be good on their
pledges. If you say you're going to help the Afghan people, do it. If
you've made a pledge, write your check. It's important.

America and our partners are helping rebuild roads and bridges and
waterways and buildings. Last month, the United States and Japan and
Saudi Arabia committed $180 million to rebuild the highway connecting
Kabul, Kandahar and Herat. It's an important project.

President Karzai spoke to me about it in the Oval Office. He said,
it's important that we show the people that we're -- that we can work
together to restore the historic link, to make sure that commerce and
trade flow more freely and that people are able to find work. I want
to thank the Saudi Arabians, the Japanese for joining us in this highly
visible and highly important project.

We're also helping to rebuild schools and hospitals and clinics.
Some of the first rebuilding is being done by the U.S. Army Civil
Affairs soldiers, who are working with relief agencies to rebuild
dozens of schools. With us today is Captain Britton London, who
enlisted friends, family members, church groups to supply Afghan
students with thousands of pens and pencils and notebooks. Captain
London is a man after my own heart. He started a -- he got the
equipment necessary to start the first post-Taliban baseball league.
(Laughter.) He brought me a ball -- two balls signed by the Eagles
-- the Eagles, the Eagles, the mighty Eagles of Afghan baseball.
(Laughter.) And they practice -- they're practicing now, and the
games are held once a week.

Our soldiers wear the uniforms of warriors, but they are also
compassionate people. And the Afghan people are really beginning to
see the true strength of our country. I mean, routing out the Taliban
was important, but building a school is equally important.

Across Afghanistan, U.S. aid will help build and refurbish several
hundred more schools over the next two years. We're also in the
process of training hundreds of teachers. In March, many girls walked
into a classroom for the first time. And our country has provided
them, as well as the boys, with millions of new textbooks.

It's hard to believe -- I know it's hard for some in America to
believe that the Afghan people were living under a government that
would not let girls go to school. It's just hard to imagine in
America. But it's reality. And now we've got a lot of work to do to
make up for lost time. Everybody counts, everybody has worth,
everybody matters. Spearheading our back-to-school efforts are Lisa
Hartenberger and Nitin Madhaf. They work for USAID. They're a part of
the -- they're a part of the new army in Afghanistan -- these are
army of compassionate souls who are on the front lines of making sure
that the Afghan people understand our commitment is real; that when we
talk about freedom we understand that freedom is more than just a word.
Freedom is a chance for people to get a good education; freedom is
chance for people to get good health care; freedom is a chance for
people to realize their dreams.

And I want to thank -- I want to thank these two fine public
servants that work for -- with Andy, for your service to the country
in service of Afghanistan. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, buddy.
(Applause.)

Last year when the Taliban fell, I know I remember it and I'm sure
a lot of our fellow Americans remember, the images of celebration that
took place in the streets. People came out to celebrate freedom. It
reminded us that the whole world -- in the whole world there is a
huge appetite for freedom. People love to be free. And it's
important -- as we stay in Afghanistan, it will be important for
other brave people, whether they live in Muslim countries or in the
Middle East, people who stand for tolerance and the rule of law and
equal rights and freedom of expression, to see our commitment to
freedom; that our commitment for freedom is complete, and it's real,
and it's sincere.

It's also important for people to know we never seek to impose our
culture or our form of government. We just want to live under those
universal values, God-given values. We believe in the demands of human
dignity that apply in every culture, in every nation. Human beings
should have the right to free speech. Women deserve respect and
opportunity. All people deserve equal justice, religious tolerance.
This is true in America. This is true in Afghanistan. These rights
are true everywhere.

We've seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom can be hard,
it's a hard struggle. We've also seen in Afghanistan that the road to
freedom is the only one worth traveling. Any nation that sacrifices to
build a future of liberty will have the respect, the support, and the
friendship of the United States of America.

May God bless the people of Afghanistan and of America. Thank you
all for coming. (Applause.)